Which dog breed makes the best pet? – Part 2

I’ve had thirty-five years of Standard Poodles. Bernie, Sidney, Anni and now, Charley! Standard poodles are a great breed, wonderful for families and a good companion singles or couples!

The dog we know this day as the Standard Poodle was originally a German dog, a water retreiver that was called “pudelin” meaning ’splashing in water’. The French used these water dogs on their estates and trimmed their coats in a aqua-dynamic fashion to protect the dog’s’ joints and vital body parts from long exposure in cold water. Later, when Poodles became a breed and a show dog, the cut became extreme and much of the visual lineage of the dog was lost.

I never really did any training with the poodles that I had. In my own experience, they just learn so much by being with us. If we didn’t like the puppy peeing on the floor it was some loud words and then, outside. A couple experiences of that and the pups knew where to go. Standard Poodles are very reactive, they can see what you are thinking. A very notable vet in Connecticut told me that poodles are actually. an ancient dog, that their brain circuitry and anatomy go way back to Egypt. I can't substantiate this, however, this has been evidenced in my own relationship with the Standards that I've at times been in situations where I was glad I had a protector at house or someone I had to deal with at the front door when my husband was away. Basically, this is empirical knowledge, just based on my life and the lives of the poodles I've had in my life. I just wanted to put in a good word, for all of them.

One interesting anecdote about Anni, who I had for fifteen years and still miss very much. We traveled a lot, and on one occasion, after a full day on the road, I nchecked into a motel in Savannah, GA. I was tired and hungry and put Anni in the room and dumped the bags on the floor and went to the nearby restaurant for a swift sandwich. The wind picked up outside, and as I waited for long, long minutes at a table, I could hear the wind whistling in the front windows. Finally, the waiter arrived, I ordered, and much later, I got my sandwich. By then it was nearly dark. I had saved a bit of the sandwich for Anni, as I usually did, and went back to the motel room. I was shocked to see that the door was open and ran in a panic up the parking lot. The wind was really swirling paper cups and debris around now and rain was whipping with the wind. When I reach the doorway, there was Anni, peering out from the darkness inside. Her eyes glowed with happiness to see me and I hugged her, “Oh, good girl. Thank you!” I said.

A women appeared from the adjoining room, gathering her robe about her in the wind.

“Oh, there you are! I was worried. When the door blew open, I saw that your dog was in there. I was so afraid she would run out and away-but I guess she just stayed in there, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she sure did!” was all I could say. But, as we settled on the bed and I gave Anni the sandwich bits and then her supper, I wasn’t too amazed. We’d been together a long time-she was twelve years old and she knew…she knew where I was and that I would come back-because I always came back.

I could say Anni was a better dog (and she was). But she was also a Standard poodle, and that kind of thinking is very characteristic of them. I wouldn't expect less.

Today, the Standard Poodle remains a good sound breed that can provide a wonderful friend to a single person, a couple or a family. I total endorse this breed and hope, if you're looking for a dog, that you'll consider the Standard Poodle!